Normal social interaction—time, place, people around, sound, and space all sufficient to satisfy, fleeting touches, fingers like falling rain, momentarily dropping on shoulders, waist, arms, temperature, and sensation silently seeping through clothing, only ultraviolet light could reveal complete fingerprints, voice, and breath absorbed by pores, tobacco masculinity, and elegant light fragrance mixing—like a fine black thread trembling and winding from the skin into muscle, swimming into blood vessels, following the aorta back to the heart, needles strung along the thread, unexpectedly pricking heart valves, creating an irremovable slight pain and itch.
Chen Yi quickly composed himself, his face becoming stern and proper, eyes serious and formal, tone sinking to the depths, desperately ignoring the graceful waist and flawless porcelain skin, the beautiful eyes and raised delicate chin, instructing her how to read the ball, aim, apply force…
Talking and laughing, swinging the cue, moving back and forth, the surrounding noise and everything else became a faded background void, only that fine black thread winding and rewinding. Why did no one notice anything amiss? Such obvious colors and traces, wrapped around right under their eyes like an airtight cocoon, brazen and unrestrained.
Miao Jing released the cue, apologetically shaking her head at Lu Zhengsi, retreating to sit in a chair to rest. Chen Yi turned and disappeared, standing sullenly by the roadside exhaling smoke. Some young girls glanced at him with flickering eyes. He slightly relaxed his thick eyebrows, hooking up the corner of his mouth in a bad-boy smile, making them shy away.
Returning to the pool hall, the table was empty. Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi had left. Bo Zai said they’d gone carrying two plush toys, planning to browse the nearby food street, not coming back. Chen Yi made a sound of acknowledgment, leaning back in his chair to rest, hearing Bo Zai talk about Lu Zhengsi—a polite and upright young man with big eyes and thick brows, well-matched with Miao Jing. His eyes rigidly stared at the ceiling. Bo Zai then mentioned Sister Li’s call. Chen Yi found his chatter annoying, sending Bo Zai home, staying alone in the shop for peace.
That night Chen Yi didn’t go home, staying at the pool hall to practice. He happened to receive a call saying a snooker master had arrived, staying in the neighboring city for a few days. Chen Yi didn’t think twice, driving out early the next morning.
The club was luxuriously decorated, those who could come today weren’t ordinary people, ranked and numbered, all with some achievements and fame. The club owner knew Chen Yi too—he didn’t play in open competitions, but his skill at the table couldn’t be underestimated. The owner had once tried unsuccessfully to recruit him as a player. A large crowd gathered around the table. Chen Yi watched without saying much, finally picking up a cue to play, his posture particularly handsome. Combined with that young handsome face under the lights, he looked like just for show, but with one powerful shot, the whole table fell silent.
His skill level was already at the first or second tier of professional players.
Tu Li couldn’t find him for several days. She asked Miao Jing, but Miao Jing didn’t know either—Chen Yi had messaged saying he’d be gone for two days. She then asked Bo Zai, finally learning Chen Yi had gone to play pool in another city. She had worked as a cashier at the pool hall and knew the hall made about two hundred thousand in profit annually. Chen Yi split half with Bo Zai, putting over a hundred thousand in his pocket. Chen Yi spent money freely, always paying when going out eating and drinking with his questionable friends, sometimes making quick money from pool table stakes.
Miao Jing asked Bo Zai: “How much per game usually?”
“Sometimes thousands, sometimes ten thousand per game. Brother Yi knows his limits, and won’t play too wildly.”
“Does he play often?”
“Not really, he doesn’t let students gamble on pool here either. After all, it’s near schools, inspections are strict.”
Hearing Bo Zai say this, Miao Jing didn’t comment. Chen Yi had been playing in small pool rooms since middle school, starting with ten or twenty yuan games—everyone was used to it.
Gone for a week, when Chen Yi returned from playing outside, the weather had cooled. He wore black clothes, black pants, and camouflage boots, somehow acquiring a gold chain around his neck hanging with the jade pendant, giving off a distinctly worldly big brother vibe, returning to that carefree lazy state.
Miao Jing saw the gold chain on his neck and asked if it was real.
Chen Yi tossed the gold chain in his hand, feeling its weight, raising his eyebrows proudly: “Won it from a club owner, what do you think, real or fake?”
She didn’t ask how his games went, but hearing him call friends to invite them for karaoke and sauna, the results couldn’t have been too disappointing. Turning from his call, seeing her autumn-water eyes without focus, he strode over with his long legs to sit before her, hanging up with his friends to ask: “How’s it been at home these days?”
“Pretty good.” She sat on the sofa folding clothes, asking if he wanted cake.
“What cake?”
“It was Zhengsi’s birthday. We bought a birthday cake, didn’t finish it, I brought the rest back, it’s in the fridge.”
Oh, others’ leftover cake, asking if he wanted some.
“No.”
Speaking of Lu Zhengsi brought up another matter. Chen Yi propped his chin, slightly squinting, mouth twitching: “Things good with Lu Zhengsi?”
“Very good.” Miao Jing lowered her eyes submissively, remembering something, saying softly, “The weather’s getting cold, catching the early bus is a bit difficult. Zhengsi often runs back and forth to the city center, it’s not very convenient. I’m thinking of moving to the company dormitory. Can I keep my room here? Maybe I can come back to stay for a day or two on weekends.”
He lowered his eyes, and thick black eyelashes, then suddenly stood up, taking large strides, “Whatever you want.”
“Are you going out?”
“Need something?”
“Perfect timing.” She carried the clothes to her room. “Let me change clothes, give me a ride. I have a date today. I’ll be back late tonight. If you get back early, fix the washing machine pipe, it’s leaking a bit.”
“…”
Miao Jing touched the pearl earrings on her ears as she left her room, long hair loosely pinned up with a clip, a few strands falling on her swan-like neck. The light blue shirt dress reached her calves—seemingly the most ordinary clothes, but on her, they carried a crystalline coolness, a beautiful but not garish noble quality that no one could touch, couldn’t catch the hem of her dress as she slipped away.
She had arranged to meet Lu Zhengsi at a restaurant. Chen Yi dropped her off, turned the car around, and left. She watched the Cadillac disappear into the distance, then made another call to Chen Yi.
His voice showed slight impatience: “What is it?”
They hadn’t spoken a word in the car, but this call came through quickly.
“There’s an umbrella in the back seat.”
“Want me to bring it back to you?”
“No need, just letting you know, it’s Sister Li’s, just return it to her.”
“Mm.”
Chen Yi drove around the city center, picking up Da Yong and his girlfriend along the way, then waiting for Tu Li to come down, and finally picking up Dai Mao. In the evening they went to a club—banquet, sauna, mahjong, and karaoke all in one. Chen Yi seemed in a good mood, his face full of smiles, eyes flying high. After dinner, everyone enjoyed themselves at the mahjong table. Chen Yi played a couple of rounds, Tu Li sitting with him, helping count his chips and discard tiles. He won quite a bit. Finally, at karaoke, they ordered several cases of drinks, everyone playing games, pulling off the big gold chain from Chen Yi’s neck to examine it on the spot. He was drunk until his face turned pale, a pair of bright starlike eyes looking up from the sofa, leisurely smoking again, Tu Li holding his neck, her bright red lipstick marks on his neck.
Miao Jing waited for Lu Zhengsi to arrive. After meeting up, they found a place to eat. Recently, a component design project was handed to Miao Jing. The drawings had come down, and the subsequent design and test certification work needed to begin. This was what Miao Jing discussed with Lu Zhengsi. After dinner, Miao Jing simply followed Lu Zhengsi back to the company, spending two hours overtime working on technical documents.
When the time was right, Lu Zhengsi came in from outside, saying it was raining. Miao Jing got up to leave, exiting the office with Lu Zhengsi. The autumn rain fell heavily with cold air, the wind blowing through her hair and dress hem, her delicate beauty evoking sympathy.
“It’s too late, let me take you home.” Lu Zhengsi held the umbrella for her, pulling out the car keys. “The company cars are all empty, I borrowed one, perfect for giving you a ride.”
“Thank you, sorry for the trouble.” Miao Jing didn’t refuse his kindness. “You don’t need to work overtime with me.”
“I think this is good, I learned a lot following Engineer Miao.”
“You should still have your own private time, don’t learn from me. I might be a bit extreme.”
“Engineer Miao, you’re the… most hardworking girl I’ve ever met. Have you always been like this?”
“Is that something to say?” Miao Jing smiled. “Hard work is the most easily obtained talent, and also the simplest way to escape life, or rather, escape troubles.”
“Engineer Miao, do you have many troubles?”
Miao Jing smiled brightly: “I’m just very interested in life’s choices.”
They talked about work, the future and industry, and finally about their families. Lu Zhengsi tentatively asked: “The person you mentioned… who was seriously ill, was it Chen Yi?”
“Does he seem like it?”
Lu Zhengsi shrugged his shoulders, a bit confused.
–
Arriving at home, Lu Zhengsi and Miao Jing shared an umbrella getting out of the car. She carefully held her dress hem. Unexpectedly, there was a car parked by the street—Tu Li in a leopard print miniskirt holding Chen Yi had also returned. The four met face-to-face downstairs.
Chen Yi had drunk quite a bit but wasn’t quite drunk. The bright gold chain on his neck was gone. He lazily leaned on Tu Li, his whole body dark and cold, eyes hard and gloomy, making his sharp-featured face white as jade in the rainy night, emanating an unrestrained, wild quality.
The two umbrellas converged, Chen Yi and Miao Jing, each looked up, their gazes meeting in the fine rain, quiet for a moment, then silently moving away.
“What a coincidence.”
“You’re back?”
The rain was falling heavily now, and my pant legs getting wet. The four went upstairs one after another. Miao Jing boiled water for tea, helping Chen Yi sober up, everyone having a drink to warm up—as soon as the teapot was set down, the home’s atmosphere suddenly became lively. Tu Li and Lu Zhengsi chatted about the evening’s interesting events, how Chen Yi’s big gold chain was completely divided up by everyone, the room full of Tu Li’s clear laughter.
With the rain so heavy, Chen Yi welcomed visitors tonight, and Tu Li naturally planned to stay.
It was getting late, and Lu Zhengsi was a bit awkward, hesitating to leave, but was stopped by Miao Jing: “The rain’s so heavy, it’s not safe for you to drive back either, why don’t you stay?”
As soon as she spoke, three pairs of eyes fixed on her clear face. Chen Yi’s expression changed slightly, his meaningful gaze frozen still. Lu Zhengsi’s face reddened slightly, standing somewhat stiffly, scratching his head again, the awkwardness broken by Tu Li’s joking words: “This home just lacks a mahjong table, otherwise we could play several rounds tonight. Everyone look, is there a deck of cards in the house?”
Lu Zhengsi followed Miao Jing into her room.
The room closed gently and unlocked, leaving a thin gap, able to hear a bit of sound from inside. Tu Li looked again and again with laughing eyes, seductively curling into Chen Yi, picking up her hair ends to tease his expressionless face. His brows furrowed tighter, yet he made no move, drooping his eyes, taking deep drags of his cigarette one after another.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Tu Li pouted her red lips, batting her flirtatious eyes, pressing against his ear, “Should I shower first?”
He half-closed his eyes, exhaling a cloud of smoke, coldly hooking his lips, taking it as a response.
Tu Li happily entered the bathroom, even borrowing makeup remover and face cream from Miao Jing, and then entered Chen Yi’s room. Seeing him lazily propping up his legs, leaning against the headboard smoking, she giggled, her long hair brushing Chen Yi’s shoulders: “Tonight was interesting. Miao Jing took two cups and a box of milk into the room and even asked if I wanted some. Who drinks milk at a time like this?”
Her two arms hung on Chen Yi’s shoulders, kissing him closely, voice seductive: “Aren’t you going to shower? The bathroom might have a queue later.”
Chen Yi’s eyes were cold and hard as he pressed the lighter to light another cigarette, his voice hoarse and frivolous: “What’s the rush, why not let them shower first?”
Tu Li sensually pinched his hard chest muscles, suddenly making a surprised sound, her eyes flickering with interest: “Is there a sound from next door?”
The old house, two rooms side by side, doors next to each other, soundproofing wasn’t very good.
“What’s that sound? Why the screaming?” Tu Li covered her lips, giggling. “Didn’t expect Miao Jing, looking so refined and delicate, to be so uninhibited. Why don’t you two men compete? See who’s better? Otherwise just listening like this, it’s so…”
His face showed a cold, fierce gloom, yet he forced himself to remain calm, his temple throbbing, pupils dark, tinged with red threads, neck stiff, smoking more and more urgently, more and more chaotically, finally his brow bursting with ferocity as he picked up Tu Li: “Get dressed.”
“What’s wrong?” Tu Li didn’t understand.
Long legs striding off the bed, footsteps carrying a murderous air, opening the door to knock on the next room, bang bang bang. The sound inside stopped. Miao Jing opened a narrow gap in the door, a pair of clear black and white eyes staring at him.
He gritted his teeth: “Come out.”
“Let me change clothes.”
Her voice was lazy and hoarse, eyes lingering and tired, closing the door.
Needle-like pain spread up from his spine.
Miao Jing wore only a thin short nightgown, finding a long sweater to wrap around herself. She came out of the room with her arms crossed, Chen Yi waiting for her on the balcony.
Those eyes of his were frighteningly bright, also frighteningly fierce, head lowered, coldly lifting his eyelids, staring straight at her as she stepped over.
The wind stirred her long hair, like dense underwater grass, those beautiful eyes soft and calm. Miao Jing stood on the balcony, casually closing the door behind her, softly asking: “What’s wrong?”
He gritted his teeth, gritted again, almost grinding his back teeth to pieces, words cold and deep, word by word, pinning her in place: “I don’t care why you came back, don’t care where you live, what you do. I never agreed to let you bring men back to sleep. You… either move out or get a hotel room.”
Miao Jing was silent for a long while, finally lowering her eyes dimly, softly parting her lips: “What about you? There’s someone in your room too.”
“Same for me.” He said hatefully, “Won’t bring women back to stay overnight.”
“Alright.” She thought for a moment, “But what if you’re not home?”
“No!!”
“No problem.” She smiled at him, that smile somewhat crafty and mischievous.
Looking at her expression, his face tightened, hard as stone, wanting to bite her throat, make her too obedient to smile.
Miao Jing returned to her room, opening the door in front of him—Lu Zhengsi had already left at some unknown time, the room empty. She had been watching an episode of a variety show on her laptop.
“Good night, I’m going to sleep.”
Chen Yi’s mind suddenly buzzed, frozen in place by the cold wind.
Tu Li, burning with anger, was sent home by an ashen-faced Chen Yi.